An animal control officer who killed an innocent dog by mistake has resigned from his position, saying he will live with the regret for the rest of his life.
Sarge, a beloved family pet, was shot through the head with a bolt gun after being found by Gisborne council workers on the streets in New Zealand’s North Island on September 22.
The officer who killed the animal released a statement accepting full responsibility for what happened.
He sincerely apologised to the family and community that had been affected by the tragedy and confirmed he will cooperate with an investigation into what happened.
Seven hours after Sarge was found on the streets, his owners, Logan and Piri, were told he had been euthanised by an officer.
The animal control officer who accidentally killed Sarge (pictured), a beloved family dog, has resigned effective immediately
Sarge was found wandering the streets while his owners, Logan and Piri, were at work so he was taken to the pound only to be mistakenly euthanized (pictured, Sarge and Logan)
‘It is with sadness and remorse that I acknowledge my actions which led to the untimely death of a much-loved family dog. An error that I will forever regret,’ the statement read.
‘To the whānau who has lost their beloved pet, words will never be enough to express how deeply sorry I am for your pain. A pet is more than just an animal; it’s a family member, a companion, and a source of endless joy.
‘I can’t begin to imagine the void and grief you must be experiencing. Please accept my sincere and unreserved apology.’
Whānau is the traditional Māori language word for family.
The officer also apologised to the local Tairāwhiti community for the grief he had caused them.
‘I understand that trust is a big part of the job, and I deeply regret breaking that trust. The safety of people’s pets, the animals we encounter, and the welfare of the community have always been, and will always remain, paramount,’ he said.
‘This mistake was mine and mine alone. Gisborne District Council has processes in place, which I unfortunately did not follow.
‘I want everyone to understand that one individual’s error should not be a reflection on the entire Council and its staff who work hard for the community. No one else should be blamed for my mistake.’
Gisborne District Council announced that it will be investigating the incident in an attempt to win back the trust of their community.
Kate Wallingford, the Director of Owl Investigations, has been appointed as the head of the investigation by Council Chief Executive Nedine Thatcher Swann.
‘We genuinely and deeply regret the distress caused to Sarge’s whānau and we acknowledge the huge outpouring of anger and grief from the community,’ Ms Swann wrote.
‘We have failed the community and need to work hard to regain its confidence in us. This should not have happened and we sincerely apologise.’
Sarge had been microchipped and tagged, but when animal controllers tried returning him, his owners were at work so they took him to the pound instead.
Council guidelines state that an escaped animal cannot be left at the same property they escaped from if there is nobody there to watch it.
Sarge was allegedly returned to Logan and Piri in a garbage bag, who didn’t know that he had been shot until they took him out to bury him
Neighbours claimed they tried to stop animal controllers from taking Sarge away while Logan and Piri were at work.
By the time the couple were called to pick him up, Sarge had already been put down.
A whānau spokesperson told stuff.co.nz that they had no chance of saving their dog.
‘His family had no opportunity to speak to anyone before he was killed.
‘We were advised of this horrible “mistake” late Friday afternoon, a mere seven hours after he was taken.’
Family friend Kara Hull said how the council dealt with the situation was cruel.
‘Imagine accidentally killing a human, then just putting out a media statement,’ she told stuff.co.nz separately.
She said the dog was later delivered to its owners in ‘a rubbish bag’.
It was only when the couple opened the bag to bury the dog under his favourite plum tree that they discovered he had been killed by bolt gun.
‘He basically had the shot wound in his head. Not only what happened, but then to see him like that was so painful – to think he died like that is beyond awful,’ said Ms Hull.
Sarge was buried on Saturday.
SPCA policy says that ‘In most situations, the best method of euthanasia for dogs is by a veterinarian using lethal injection, where possible (and sedation if required to reduce the stress of handling prior to euthanasia).’
The officer to blame tendered their resignation immediately and said that they would accept the consequences of their mistake.
‘Given the seriousness of my failure, I have decided to resign from my position at the Gisborne District Council. I believe in taking ownership for my actions,’ the statement continued.
‘I will be fully cooperating with the independent investigation process. In closing, from the depths of my heart, I seek your forgiveness. And while the pain might not subside, I hope that in time, healing will begin.’
The council (statement pictured) said it ‘apologises unreservedly’ for ‘this grievous error’ and that the officer concerned is ‘deeply remorseful and shaken’